Good news, for many reasons…
If you’re setting sights on South Africa, you’ll soon have yet another option for direct travel from London. Virgin Atlantic is adding a second daily flight between Heathrow and Johannesburg, ramping up competition on one of the most sought after routes in the world. Here’s why this is an important development and how it may impact flight prices…
Virgin Atlantic will soon add a second daily non stop flight between London Heathrow and Johannesburg, South Africa – operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The flight will depart London Heathrow at 4:25PM arriving 5:40AM in Johannesburg, and return from Johannesburg at 10:20PM for a 7:30AM London arrival.
When
The second daily flight will launch October 28th, 2018 – matching British Airways with two direct non stop flights into Johannesburg. Both flights will be operated by 787 Dreamliner aircraft, offering reduced jet lag and more pleasant cabin pressure. The flight is timed to allow onward travel to or from an array of Virgin’s most popular US routes.
Why
This is great news for travelers hoping to use points or score low fares. The second flight will bring two times the opportunity to redeem miles for “free” flights or upgrades on any given day. With the added capacity, competition between airlines will heat up, which often leads to lower fares.
How
South Africa Airways recently abandoned their second daily flight to Johannesburg, creating a great opportunity. Virgin Atlantic has seized that opportunity and will now go head to head on one of the most popular flight routes in the world. Good flight times coupled with modern Dreamliner aircraft will create a compelling proposition for travelers. Let the competition begin – in October.
